This photo of the josephine 18731907 taken at labarge rock on the. To create public interest through education, tours, promotion, and. Fort benton today is a national historic landmark because of its importance to navigation on the missouri river. The manuscripts, documents, and photographs in the collection are important to each era in the history of fort benton, chouteau county, the upper missouri river, and the northern great plains. Father bo mason reaches for the big scorethe candy mountainin north dakota, saskatchewan, montana, and utah, including running a bootlegging operation during prohibition. Alexander culbertson and his blood indian wife natawista were the first family of fort benton. My family owns a copy of this book with only a few pages and the covers missing. Information for this article was gathered from the 1922 whoop trail year book, the pondera history book 1968, and from candy moultons article whiskeyrunnin whoopup trail linking fort benton, montana, with canada in true west magazine. Healy obtained supplies from fort benton, montana, and headed north. The true stories behind historys mysteries legends of the west lawrence, edward, ober, michael on. In 1965 fort benton was designated a national historic landmark.
Chouteau county is located in north central montana, about 100 miles south of the canadian border. Get instant criminal history, financial history, addresses and contact info. A year on the northeastern frontier, by ben hughes, westholme publishing, yardley, pa. I have yet to read a history book about canada, i cannot say that anymore. Jack lepley, 89, leaves behind a legacy of sharing fort bentons history with the world. It was built at the height of fort bentons prosperity and the steamboat era on the upper missouri river. The city of lethbridge, alberta, canada, and the town of fort macleod, have boulevards named in potts honour. Still, fort benton is along the southern boundary of the hiline region. It was named for senator thomas hart benton, and was originally little more than a palisaded fort, with the facilities of the trading firm within.
Natawista wore dresses such as those worn by eastern women for parties. In honor of national womens history month and we would like to present the story of margaret henry uhle stocking, another woman who was significant in fort bentons history. They dragged the keel boats and the mackinaws up the river, living on only dried meat and occasional fresh game. He was instrumental in forming the montana agricultural center, among many other projects. It was built at the height of fort benton s prosperity and the steamboat era on the upper missouri river. Au press, 2008, by walter hildebrandt pdf with commentary at au press. Fort bentons river and plains society has recently had two useful reminders of just how close our shared regional history really is. The significant role they played in settlement of the american and canadian west accorded them national and international importance in the history of both nations. The benton weekly record, montana, december 22, 1876. While a great civil war raged far to the east, fort benton emerged a hustling commercial center, abandoning. The significant role they played in settlement of the american and canadian west. Quantity 18 linear feet of shelf space collection number mc 46 collection summary established by the united states army in 1879, fort assinniboine served to secure the canadian border, and enforce a policy of intimidation and containment of the native american nations. Infantry arrived in kings valley, oregon on 25 jul 1856. The center houses a substantial collection of unpublished archival records of individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and events.
The book, entitled fort benton, is part of a postcard history series, and is full of postcard images of fort benton and the surrounding area. Whiskeyrunnin whoopup trail linking fort benton, montana. It led indians, traders, and cattlemen into a great interior market stretching northward from the missouri river in montana to the bow river valley in the canadian province of alberta. Only history must relate that fred pace was the most vociferous about the other party who had not. Mounted police, to destroy illegal whiskey trade and lawlessness caused by the whoopup trail operation from fort benton into canadian northwest territories. They built a dozen trading forts along the length of the upper missouri during the years of 1831 to 1846 using only the simplest of tools. The name of his family home was the wapping plantation, and he was raised in the refined tradition of the old south. Called the birthplace of montana, fort benton is the oldest continuously. This collection was compiled by eleanor luxton, a glenbow museum staff member, who was hired from 1956 to 1961 to gather information pertaining to southern alberta pioneers, northwest mounted police nwmp, presbyterian missionaries, fort whoop up, whiskey traders, fort benton, newspaper and newspaper editors, first nations of canada of canada, and southern alberta history in general. Soon there were more than fifty trading posts in what is now southern alberta, with names like slide out, standoff, kipp, and robbers roost.
Commissioner james macleod reached fort benton, and visited the fort to stock up on supplies. The independence was not the first steamboat into the missouri river as the history books tell us. The big rock candy mountain is stegners fictional telling of his troubled familys search for wealth and happiness in the farflung canadian and american west. Books about montana and the west, pictorial histories publishing. Fort benton is a town in and the county seat of chouteau county. Beginning in 1869, lumbering bull trains reached northward from fort benton, mont. Fort benton museums and heritage complex, fort benton, montana.
Overholsers notes accumulated over his years of research and published as such. Founded as a fur trading post at the head of navigation of the missouri river, it was prior the advent of the railroad one of the nations largest inland ports, playing a pivotal role in the development of the american and canadian west. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. To create public interest through education, tours, promotion, and historical presentations. Divide on the west and nearly 400 miles of the canadian border on the north. His contract as a guide for the northwest mounted police was to last twentytwo years. This trail commands attention, for it was an international highway, neatly bisected by the canadian american boundary that marches steadily westward along the fortyninth parallel. Thats why the book includes a couple of addenda beyond healys frontier sketches. The hotels history began in 1882, just 36 years after fort benton was founded, and 7 years before montana became a state. Fort benton, which is located on the north side of the missouri river, in montana became a center for trade for northern montana and southern alberta for more than forty years. On the stand off bottom were two stores owned by jimmy murray and fred pace. Top things to do in montana, including fort benton montana, upper missouri river national monument,wild and scenicupper missouri river stay safe and healthy. Established in 1865, it is one of the original nine counties of the montana territory. This wonderful event promotes the birthplace of montana.
A good man culminates what could be thought of as a trilogy of books set in the late nineteenthcentury canadian and american west, and it is a masterpiece. Search our online phone book to find phone numbers, addresses, and more. Offers a chronological timeline of important dates, events, and milestones in montana history. The fort benton historic district is a national historic landmark district encompassing the historic waterfront areas of fort benton, montana. Explore the cultural and natural history of the american west at the fort benton museums and heritage complex. Many forts, such as the infamous fort whoopup, were established around the southern canadian plains, and the traders began to illegally trade whiskey to native peoples. I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library. By the time potts was 36 he had killed at least 40 men, mostly whiskey runners. From 1860 to 1890 more than 600 steamboat landings allowed goods and commerce to reach both u.
The canadian railroad more abruptly ended the importance of the northern roads into alberta and saskatchewan from fort benton. Bull trains regularly carried supplies from fort benton, on the missouri river, across. He was hired as a guide, interpreter and scout by the northwest mounted police. The canadian mounties, originally called the northwest mounted police nwmp, were less than 3 years old when sitting bulls sioux killed or wounded more than half of lieutenant colonel george a. Trading post at fort benton national historic landmark. Find best sellers about civil war, american legends, breweries and wineries, and more. May 30, 2018 jack lepley, the keeper of fort benton s history, has died the 89yearold spent more than 30 years at the helm of the river and plains society. Within four years, a stately, impressive complex of some one hundred brick, stone, and wood buildings was clustered around the parade ground. The sixth regiment of cavalry the army of the us historical. You can take a journey through the history of fort benton in the pages of the new book by local historian ken robison. Historian compiles frontier sketches of 1860s, 70s montana. The son of a wealthy canadian timber baron, former mounted policeman wesley case relocates to the montana territory in 1876, where he purchases a ranch near the roughandtumble frontier outpost of fort benton not far from the site of custers last stand. Corbin shows that less than two years after the steamers sinking, the fort benton economy declined. The history of fort benton and the upper missouri river region from 1800 to 1900 is yours to explore at this museum in fort benton.
The author wrote and wanted to publish certain things about people who were. While problems with canada over cattle and war on terrorism policies. Discover the best books online or at your local bn bookstoreshop over 6 million books and 4. For much of its year history, the bar u ranch can claim to have been one of the most famous ranches in canada. Its history spans every era in montanas development. Fort benton is a national historic landmark, and for good reason.
The trail from fort benton to fort whoopup became a major route for bull trains carrying freight north and buffalo robes south. Stephen harper had said he would use all legal means, and what john baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. The fort, called fort whoopup, traded with the natives for hides in exchange for guns and whisky. A good man ebook calgary public library bibliocommons. In addition, youll find great book recommendations that may be of interest to you based on your search and purchase history, as well as the most wished for and most gifted books. Worlds innermost port hardcover december 1, 1987 by joel overholser author. Fort benton birthplace of montana legends of america.
She preferred gowns for festive occasions at the fort. Whether youre looking for outdoor recreation such as canoeing the missouri river, taking a historical trip to the past via museums and walking tours, or taking in all the wildlife that thrives all around, make sure to take your ford on these three fort benton day trips. History of the missouri river i find a mistake repeated, again. Founded in 1846 as a furtrading post, it is montanas oldest continuous settlement. Museum of the northern great plains fort benton 2020. A history of fort benton first edition edition by john g. On thursday, august 18, our overholser historical research center ohrc hosted three different canadian researchers working on historical projects that connect fort benton and western canada. Rather than work for the canadian government, wesley case spurns his fathers wishes and uses the last of his military pay to buy a ranch outside fort benton, in. Its reputation is firmly based on the historical role that the ranch has played, its size and longevity, and its association with some of the remarkable people who have helped develop the cattle business and build the canadian west. Cavalry regiment near montana territorys little bighorn river on june 25, 1876. It highlights the important role fort benton played in the settlement of the american west as a trading post, military fort and the head.
If the governor general had refused his request, he could have replaced her with a more compliant one, making the case to the queen that the people of canada were opposed in great numbers to a coalition replacing his government. The area was first explored by lewis and clark in 1805. If the history of the canadian wild west was dramatized in print or film, the officers of the north west mounted police would almost certainly be the good guys, while montanan whisky traders would probably be the bad guys. Fort whoopup was the largest and most notorious of them all. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Fort benton became the worlds innermost port, as well as earning a reputation as being one of the toughest towns in the west. Fort benton, the head of navigation on the missouri river, is known as the birthplace of montana. See more ideas about fur trade, canadian history and history. Read more about our proud history in our omaha district history book. In 1869, jerry potts guided john healy, alfred hamilton, and a handful of american whisky traders from fort benton to a place on the oldman river.
From what i remember, there were publishing problems due to law suits. New book shares many pictures from fort bentons history. Culbertson would wear a black cutaway formal coat with tales and a vest, a black beaver top hot, and a ruffled shirt front with tie for festive occasions and when. Take your ford vehicle on these 3 fort benton day trips. Captained by grant marsh for many years she had a long and storied history including being taken up the yellowstone river for custers seventh cavalry and transporting canadian troops to fort benton who were bound for alberta and saskatchewan. Fort benton by ken robison arcadia publishing books. Uhle around 1858 and traveled by wagon train to denver colorado. A reconstructed fort benton is located on the original site and includes exhibits related to the whoopup trail and other area history. Indian relocation, resulting in the cherokee trail of tears, will always be a black page in this countrys history.
There, the whisky traders built fort whoopup, the notorious whisky fort whichs calamitous traffic, in essence, became the main reason for the formation of the north west mounted police. From fort benton on the great muddy to fort macleod on the oldman, the trail with the rowdy name wrote its history in whisky, guns, furs, and pioneer enterprise. Canadian historythe whiskey traders and the nwmp wikibooks. From fort benton on the great muddy to fort macleod on the oldman, it reached into the north, writing its history in whisky, guns, furs, freight, and pioneer enterprise. The 8th grade history teacher here in fort benton montana mid 1960s, mr. The canadian government formed the northwest mounted police in an effort to prevent the use of whiskey in trading with natives. Across the 49th parallel the united states canada border, they pushed to supply whisky. Fort assinniboine, the largest military post constructed in montana, was established in 1879.
Frequent massacres darkly stain the pages of western history. Alexander culbertson and his blood indian wife natawista. Indian trade guns were not as important to the plains and southwest indians as they had been to the eastern indians. Every good western story needs its heroes and villains. In 1865, fort benton became the county seat of the newly formed chouteau county.
The fight made at fairfield by this small regiment against two of the crack brigades of stuarts cavalry, which were endeavoring to get around the flank of our army to attack the trains, was one of the most gallant in its history and was really a part of the battle of gettysburg. American whiskey traders from fort benton, montana had established a fort near what is now lethbridge alberta some years earlier. The fort assinniboine preservation association, inc. The first book to view the development of the canadian rockies from a maritime perspective, the life and times of the steamboat red cloud ties the missouri rivers commercial development with the opening of the canadian west and its most important communities, with the formation of the canadian northwest mounted police and with the river by. Vanderhaeghe skilfully weaves a rich tapestry of history with the turns of fortune of his most vividly and compellingly drawn cast of characters yet.
Fort benton museums and heritage complex home facebook. The actual construction of the military road from fort walls walla to fort benton was deferred until 18591860, when the expedition was placed in the immediate charge of lieutenant mullan, and the mullan road will live in history, although the iron horse has paralleled it for the greater part of its length. Fort benton montana top things to do fort benton, montana. I have also included a bibliography of interesting canadian books books that. In september 1874, potts was trading horses in fort benton, montana. Hamilton built fort hamilton in 1869 as a trading post. Charles conrad was born in 1850 in the shenandoah valley of virginia near front royal. Wool, to construct fort hoskins on a site chosen by capt. There is also a jerry potts elementary school in northwest calgary. Bootleggers loaded canadian liquor into cars and headed south. Jerry potts is buried at fort macleod with the rank of special constable in the northwest mounted police. Montana history timeline important dates, events, and milestones in montana history. On march 29, 1757, amid a power struggle for north america that had been going poorly for britain for almost three years, inexperienced soldiers of the 35th regiment of foot under lt.
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